RIP Victor Smith

All, Our good friend, Victor, passed away peacefully at Farnorha RSL Care here in Cairns yesterday afternoon. Vic was diagnosed with dementia in 2011, and had been in decline since. He was 80 years old. Vic came to Bougainville in 1983 and left in 1990, for obvious reasons. He was a Chef and Camp Manager with SHRM and worked at all of their messes during his time there. He also managed SHRM's flying squad which catered for the BCL`s corporate functions. Vic was responsible for some of those fabulous margarine, ice and prawn centrepieces. His champagne breakfasts at his house at Loloho beach were legendary. After Bougainville, Vic continued on with SHRM at Kikori (PNG), Musswellbrook (NSW), and with the Navy divers at Lavender Bay in Sydney. The records show that he commenced a role in Sydney, in October, 1993.  He retired in 1996, and moved from Perth to the Gold Coast in 1999, then on up here to Cairns in 2009. Vic's funeral service is at 10.00AM, Tuesday March 1st at the Heritage Brady Chapel, Maher Road, Gordonvale. Later in the year, Charlie and I will sprinkle his ashes on Sydney Harbour in the presence of Shirley & George Thring and probably Coral & Ted Tame. Regards, Russ Russ, thanks for your help, old mate. Pls pass our best to the Thrings, the Greenhalls and to the Tames. Davo

From: "Gary & Nana"
Date: 25 February 2016 at 7:51:16 PM AEST
To: "John Davidson" <info@johndavidson.com.au>
Cc: "Gary & Nana Lye - Gmail" <lye.australia@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: RIP Victor Smith

Hi Davo .... that’s a real shame!  Certainly can remember Vic and the SHRM boys!!  Apart from keeping me well fed in my early BCL days until Nana took over, they really made some special times for us .... one memory for me was the garlic butter grilled lobster tail medallions at the “Konianu” Guesthouse in Panguna in the mid/late 70’s!! As a Maroon I was used to mud crabs etc and that was the first time I’d ever tasted such a delicacy ...... and that taste lives on with me!!  Nothing like special food/tastes to cement in the memory!! 

.... of course the others from that lot that stood out for me were Joe Fragnito and the larger than life Bruce McCarthy with his “Mafioso” style of voice and all those gold rings! 

Hope you’re enjoying your “retirement” ....

Cheers

Gary